Bottle-stopper.



No. 853,079. PATENTEDMAY '7, 1907;

, H. M. GRAY.

BOTTLE STOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.11, 1907.

UNITED STATES TENT orrien HARRY M. GRAY, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoR or ONE-HALF TO EMIL e. BELL, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1907.

Application filed February 11, 1.907. Serial No. 356,664-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY M. GRAY, a citizenof the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle Stoppers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention refers to improvements in non-refillable bottles and it has for its object to provide a stopper which will absolutely prevent filling of the bottle while allowing of a free outflow. Also to prevent removal of the stopper without breaking the bottle.

The invention is designed to be used with a bottle provided with an internal annular shoulder, and is constructed and adapted to operate in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1. is a partial sectional view showing the stopper in place in the bottle, in upright position. Fig. 2. is a similar view illustrating the action of the check valve in pouring from the bottle. Fig. 3. is a perspective detail view of the stopper and its retaining devices. Fig.4. is a cross section on the line IV. IV. of Fig. 1.

The bottle 2 is provided with the usual neck 3 which is preferably tapered inwardly to insure tight seating of the check-valvecontrolled stopper 4, adapted to be tightly fitted in the lower portion of the neck as shown, leaving suflicient space above for insertion of the usual cork 5.

The bottle is provided around its inner circumference with a projecting annular abutment or ridge 6 of any desired form adapted to engage the locking arms 7, 7, op positely arranged and pivotally connected as by interengaging eye at 8 to the lower end of a stem 9 depending downwardly from the stopper 4 as shown. The stopper 4 is centrally perforated by a downwardly narrowing tapered outflow-port 10 in which is located a freely movable check valve 11 in the form of a small ball.

The port 10 is circular in cross section and finished smooth, as is also the valve 11, so that it will make a tight sealing seat by gravity when the bottle is upright as in Fig. 1, preventing filling of the bottle, but will fall toward the wider opening of port 10 at upper end of stopper 4 when the bottle is tipped for pouring, as in Fig. 2 allowing for free outflow of the contents.

For the purpose of confining the check valve 11 against loss the upper end of stopper 4 is provided with one or more cross arms as wires, in the manner of a retaining basket or guard, and for such purpose the stem 9 is preferably fitted around the stopper along its opposite sides in grooves 12, 12, so that the stopper will fit snugly in the bottle neck. When thus assembled, the stem 9 is crossed over the top of the stopper as at 13; brought down the opposite side and the end twisted around the main stem, as at 14; thus providing a simple and efficient construction.

The stem 9 and locking arms 7, 7, are conveniently made of wire, and by reason of the loose joint between the arms and the stem they may be folded up close to the stem as in 3 for insertion of the device to position. When the stopper is seated, the arms 7 will fall outwardly against the inner sides of the bottle and underneath the annular abutment 6, thus effectually preventing the stopper from being removed for fraudulent re-filling of the bottle. It will be seen that if force is applied to lift the stopper out through the neck, the end of arms 7 will be forced through i the sides of the bottle, fracturing the glass, and absolutely preventing its re-use.

The stopper 4 and its valve 11 as well as the stem 9 and arms 7 may be made of any suitable material, preferably nonco1'rosive, as aluminium, and I do not desire to-be limited to any particular material.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

It is simple and cheap in construction, effleient and positive in operation, not liable. to get out of order, and will be found to secure the objects in view in a satisfactory manner.

The invention'may be changed or varied in construction or design by the skilled mechanic but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is.

1. A bottle stopper consisting of a ported plug provided with a check valve, and a depending stem embracing the plug and extending across the port and provided with terminal locking arms.

2. A bottle stopper consisting of a ported plug provided with longitudinal grooves and a check valve, and a depending embracing stem seated in said grooves and extending across the port and provided with terminal locking arms.

3. A bottle stopper consisting of a plug having a longitudinal tapered port, a freely movable check valve, and a depending stem provided with terminal locking arms, said stem being secured at its other end around the plug so as to extend across the port and retain'the check valve against loss.

4. A bottle stopper consisting of a plug having a tapered port provided with an internal spherical check valve, and a depending stem having freely attached locking arms at its lower end, said stem embracing the plug and extending across the top of the port.

5. The combination with a bottle having an interiorly tapered neck, of a tapered. plug seated therein provided with an out-flow port,- a check valve within said port, and a depending stem embracing the plug to re tain the check valve and having terminal locking arms adapted to engage inwardly against the bottle.

6. The combination with a bottle having an interiorly tapered neck and an inner annular shoulder, of a tapered plug seated therein provided With an outflow port, a check valve within said port, and a depending stem embracing the plu to retain the check valve and having terminal locking arms adapted to engage inwardly against the bottle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of? two Witnesses.

HARRY M. GRAY.

WVitnesses C. M. CLARKE, CHAS. S. LEPLEY. 

